Society Gists

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), known on X (formerly Twitter) as Woye, has corrected the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on its request to President Bola Tinubu to mandate former governors from collecting pensions.

Woye clarified that the issue of governors’ pensions is a state matter and has nothing to do with the presidency.

Recall that SERAP had requested President Tinubu to publicly instruct former governors, who are currently serving as ministers in his administration, to forgo collecting life pensions, luxury cars, and other allowances from their respective states while serving as ministers.

However, Woye pointed out that the ability to mandate this lies solely with the state assemblies, as it is a law passed by each state.

The APC chieftain further emphasized that President Tinubu can only use his persuasive power to encourage the former governors to follow the path of former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who voluntarily suspended his pension. Woye commended Daniel’s selflessness and suggested that others should emulate his example.

“The President has no power to suspend life pensions enjoyed by past Govs as @SERAPNigeria indicated or recommended. The President @officialABAT can only persuade the Govs to emulate @JustusOGD. The law was passed by a constitutionally elected state house of Assembly. President has no relationship with states house of Assemblies,” he wrote.

It is important to note that SERAP’s request to President Tinubu stems from the argument that it is ethically and morally wrong for former governors, who already benefit from various allowances and benefits as ministers, to continue receiving pensions from their states.